ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Amoria Neal-Tysor's nearly point-a-minute offense was more than enough to lift No. 2 seed Mercer past No. 7 Western Carolina 76-67 on Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the 2021 Ingles Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championship presented by General Shale Brick at Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville. 
 
Neal-Tysor had 27 points in 27 minutes through three periods and finished with that game-high total to lead the Bears into Friday's 2:15 p.m. semifinal against No. 3 Chattanooga or No. 6 Furman. 
 
Mercer (17-6), chasing its third tournament title in four years, got a great first half from Neal-Tysor, a junior guard. She capped a 13-point first period with a steal and layup at the buzzer, and a strong start in the second quarter gave her 20 points in the first 13 minutes. 
 
A 15-6 run gave the Bears a 58-43 lead going into the final period, but the Catamounts (6-18) hung tough. Western Carolina trailed just 69-61 with two minutes remaining but couldn't produce enough offense to pull off the upset. 
 
Sophomore Nadia Marshall paced the Catamounts with 22 points and nine rebounds. Jaron Dougherty had 14 points and 13 rebounds for Mercer, which has beaten the Catamounts 21 times in 22 career meetings.
 
2021 Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship presented by General Shale Brick
Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | Asheville, N.C.
 
Thursday, March 4
Game 1 – No. 8 ETSU 68, No. 1 Samford 61
Game 2 – No. 4 Wofford 78, No. 5 UNCG 66
Game 3 – No. 2 Mercer 76, No. 7 Western Carolina 67
Game 4 – No. 3 Chattanooga vs. No. 6 Furman, 7:15 p.m.
 
Friday, March 5
Game 5 – No. 8 ETSU vs. No. 4 Wofford, 12 p.m.
Game 6 – No. 2 Mercer vs. Game 4 winner, 2:15 p.m.
 
Sunday, March 7
Championship Game
Game 7 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 12 p.m.
 
NOTE: All times Eastern. All games to be broadcast on ESPN+, with the championship game also on Nexstar.